arsenical

[ ahr-sen-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. containing or relating to arsenic.

noun

1. any of a group of pesticides, drugs, or other compounds containing arsenic.

arsenical

/ ɑːˈsɛnɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or containing arsenic

noun

1. a drug or insecticide containing arsenic

Other Words From

• nonar·seni·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arsenical¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; arsenic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

They are made of arsenical bronze, a mix of arsenic and copper that predates tin bronze and almost certainly shortened the lives of the people who worked with it.

From Washington Times

“Anyone who has watched the dusters and sprayers of arsenical insecticides at work must have been impressed by the almost supreme carelessness with which these poisonous substances are dispensed.”

From The New Yorker

These conditions may easily be duplicated as a result of heavy applications of arsenical insecticides.

From Literature

Only then did the government begin canceling some of the registrations of arsenical pesticides.

From Salon

A statement from the industry group USA Rice Federation said that U.S. rice growers do not use arsenical pesticides.

From US News